#36 Rachel

When Rachel joined our Stronger Families programme, her self-esteem and confidence were very low and she was finding parenting an uphill struggle.

Her main challenges were poor routines and boundaries for her sons, compounded by escalating financial problems and loneliness.

The situation was becoming very difficult to manage and it had begun to affect my mental health. I had no confidence and felt worthless. All the appointments with school and hospital got in the way and stopped me taking care of myself. I had no routines; when the children were at school all I would do is eat junk food and sleep.

Rachel’s keyworker taught Rachel some useful parenting techniques, including setting a few house rules and an introducing a simple rewards system for good behaviour. Getting the children to bed was her main issue so we helped her obtain funding from Buttle UK to buy proper beds and developed a proper winddown evening routine that she could stick to. 

One day we has a Stronger Families day out to a farm and I was refusing to go, the boys were playing up and I felt rubbish. My key worker was like superwoman, she was calm and positive, she would not take no for answer, but not in a pushy, forceful way. She knew I was able to do it and that I’d have a good time. She was right. We had a great family day out, the boys loved it. She could see all along what I was capable of and helped to pull it out of me.

Rachel’s confidence has soared and she’s much more sociable. She’s volunteering at a local afterschool club and is hoping to train as a teaching assistant soon.

If someone was thinking of accessing support from Stronger Families, I would tell them to go for it. It’s full of support and help to get you where you want to be.